Six individuals will be inducted into the St. Francis High School Athletics & Activities Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 26. The induction ceremony will take place at the SFHS Performance Arts Center beginning at 4:30 p.m. Additionally, the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will also be recognized during halftime of the Saints football game, which starts at 6 p.m.
The general public is invited to attend the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at no cost.
The 2025 St. Francis High School Athletics & Activities Hall of Fame inductees include:
Bruce Anderson, Class of 1968
Dave Anderson, Class of 1973
Paul Olson, Class of 1968
Dakotah (Bullen) Popehn, Class of 2013
Stan Sizen, Class of 1977
Don Schleper, taught in the district for 36 years and retired in 2011
With the addition of the Class of 2025, a total of 46 individuals and four teams have been inducted. The Hall of Fame, which began in 2009, was established to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of former athletic/activity participants in high school, former coaches/activity advisors and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to activities programs at SFHS as well as graduates who have made great contributions in their field of endeavor to society as a whole.
Hall of Fame Bios
Bruce Anderson - Class of 1968
Bruce Anderson, a 1968 St. Francis High School graduate, was born in East Bethel on the east side of District 15. He was the first of eight children that was raised on a dairy farm, where the farm work ethic stayed with him his entire life. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt. As a youth, he was involved in the local Whistling Workers 4-H club, the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church youth organizations and choir. Bruce attended Cedar Elementary and then went to high school, when it was 7th through 12th grade. Bruce was involved in Future Farmers of America, choir, football, wrestling, and track. After graduation, Bruce attended North Hennepin Junior College, where he participated in football and theater arts. While attending Junior College, he enlisted in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. It was during his time on the Navy carrier, USS Forrestal, that he committed his life to Christ- an experience that transformed the course of his life. While still in the Navy, Bruce was introduced to his future wife, Dottie, on a blind date. They were married in 1973 and both shared a deep faith and enjoyed the political arena. They moved back to Buffalo, Minn., where Bruce worked for several small companies around the Buffalo area. He worked in the agricultural and small business sales before starting his political career. Together they raised five children, and later they would help start the Buffalo Evangelical Free Church. The importance of a strong military and military reserve units was always one of Bruce’s top priorities in life. After his Naval service, in 1986, he rejoined the Minnesota Air National Guard, where he served until 2005. He enjoyed the discipline and strong work ethic that the reserve offered, along with the connection he felt with his fellow soldiers. He traveled to various states and countries during his time with the Guard units. In 2006, he joined the Air Force Reserve’s 27th Aerial Port Squadron at Fort Snelling, retiring in 2010 at the rank of Master Sergeant. Bruce had a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Northwestern College; he excelled in both agricultural and business sales. Like his ability to connect with his fellow servicemen, Bruce had a gift for connecting with diverse civic groups and had always been one to have a desire to serve others. In the late 1980s, Bruce was already becoming engaged in some of the local political campaigns, offering his support. Motivated by raising a daughter with a disability and experiencing some of the difficulties that she was running into, he was encouraged to run for political office. In 1994, Bruce was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, a position he was reelected to repeatedly until 2012. Bruce was asked to run for the Minnesota Senate that same year and was elected. Bruce held that Senate seat until his passing in July of 2025. Bruce believed that maintaining strong relationships was key to effective governance. No one was ever a stranger in his presence, and he worked hard to represent those who placed him in office. In 2006, Dottie was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and passed away shortly thereafter. Through the church in Montrose, Minnesota, Bruce met his wife, Ruth. Together with their combined families, they shared their faith, love of the communities and a passion for political life. Ruth was a match for Bruce’s energy, attending the parades and civic events required to be the Minnesota Senator that he had become. Bruce will be remembered for his faith, his dedication to his family, community, and 30-plus years of political public service. Bruce’s induction to the Hall of Fame is given posthumously.
David Anderson - Class of 1973
David Anderson was born and raised on his family farm in East Bethel, Minnesota He attended Cedar Elementary School for grades 1 through 6, then moved to St. Francis High School, where he completed grades 7 through 12, graduating in 1973. As a youth, Dave was active playing baseball in the Soderville Athletic Association. He continued with sports in high school, where he earned letters three times in each of the sports of football, wrestling, and track, for a total of nine letters. In football, Dave played multiple positions, including center, defensive end, and halfback. As a wrestler, he dominated his senior year by posting a 20-1 record. Wrestling for most of that season at 180 lbs., Coach Eugene Yanke convinced him to drop down to the 167-pound weight class prior to the district tournament. It proved to be a good move as he took first place and advanced to the state tournament. At the state tournament, Dave finished fourth after being eliminated from the championship bracket by a referee’s decision in the quarter finals. After the tournament, Coach Yanke commented, “I was sure proud that Dave came back after that heartbreaking decision loss from the day before…he had his sights set high, but I am glad he placed.” It was not only wrestling where Dave set his sights high, as he held the track and field school record in the pole vault at a height of 13'-1". He also participated in the high hurdles and sprint medley relay. In his senior year, Dave and teammates AJ Ondrey, Dick Lee and Jim Seel took second place in the four-man relay at the state track meet. Along with their second-place finish, their recorded time set a new school record at St. Francis High School. Dave wrapped up his senior year receiving MVP honors for both track and wrestling teams, and was also chosen Athlete of the Year for St. Francis High. Even though he had received multiple college offers for wrestling, he decided to forego college and begin his working career. It was in 1977 when he made another decision and married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl (Whittet). Together, Dave and Cheryl moved to the Anderson family farm and raised their four children, Amanda, Naomi, Sarah and Jonathon, who all attended and graduated from St. Francis Area Schools. Dave participated in coaching for the Gladiators wrestling program, coached girls’ fastpitch softball, and served on school committees at their children’s schools, while their children were involved in sports and other extracurricular activities. Being an active community member was always important to Dave. In 2002, he ran for a position on the St. Francis Area Schools school board and was successful in gaining a spot on the seven-member board. He held that position until 2014, during which time he served as chairperson for two years. In addition to those educational duties, he spent 20 years on the Metro Educational Cooperative Service Unit and has been a member of the St. Francis High School Hall of Fame Committee since 2008. Being a lifelong member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Dave has served on numerous ministry committees over the years and currently serves as the council president. Dave and Cheryl still live on the family farm today, where Dave continues to farm part-time. They now spend much of their time watching their 11 grandchildren participate in their own various extracurricular activities.
Paul Olson - Class of 1968
Dr. Paul L. H. Olson’s remarkable journey began when he moved to St. Francis in the 5th grade, settling just west of what is now Casey’s. From that moment, he left a deep mark on the school community—not only in the classroom, on the field, and on stage, but also through the legacy of leadership and perseverance he carried into his professional life. At St. Francis High School (1960–1968), Paul was the epitome of a well-rounded student. A standout threesport varsity athlete for all four years, he earned honors in football, basketball, and track and field. On the gridiron, Olson was a two-way player, excelling as a defensive lineman and tight end, earning two varsity letters and all-conference honorable mention his senior year. On the court, he was a dominant force—leading scorer and rebounder for three years, and a unanimous Skyline All-Conference selection as a senior, averaging 19.9 points per game. In track and field, he was a three-year letterman in high hurdles, high jump (5'11"), discus (130'), and shot put (48'11"). Beyond athletics, Paul ranked in the top 10 of his class and was a member of the National Honor Society. A tuba player and baritone singer, he performed in every school play, chorus, and band concert for four years, even competing at the state level in music contests. He also served on the student council. Influential mentors like Athletic Director Stan Yovetich, band leader Dick Foley, choir director Lee Carlson, and basketball coach Orville Yess helped shape his values of perseverance, discipline, musical expression, and teamwork—lessons that resonated throughout his life. After graduating in 1968, Paul attended Macalester College, where he double-majored in Mathematics and Kinesiology/Physiology. He earned letters in football (four years), wrestling (one year), and track and field (three years), setting a school record in shot put (53'2") that still stands today. His leadership in athletic training and strength development was ahead of its time. He was inducted into the Macalester College Hall of Fame in 2005. Professionally, Paul reached the pinnacle of athletic achievement—playing in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Chicago Bears from 1972 to 1974. He later turned down a contract with the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa Rough Riders to honor his teaching and coaching commitment at Anoka High School. But his most enduring contribution to the game came in 1982, when he developed the Play Evaluation Reporting System (PERS) for the Minnesota Vikings—one of the NFL’s first game film-based analytics systems. In 1984, Vikings GM Mike Lynn brought Paul into the front office to lead IT development, hiring Mike Earys, who would become the “grandfather of NFL data analytics.” Today, the field of football analytics traces its roots to Paul’s pioneering work. Paul married his high school sweetheart, Pam Nymann, the valedictorian of the Class of 1968 and daughter of longtime Anoka-Isanti Superintendent Gordon D. Nymann. His late father, Clifford A. Olson, Sr., was a proud super-fan of St. Francis athletics, cheering from 1969 until his passing in 1978. Paul’s life has been a model of humility, excellence, and lifelong impact—from the fields of St. Francis to the stadiums of the NFL to the cutting edge of sports technology. His story inspires current and future generations to pursue greatness with discipline, creativity, and heart.
Dahotah (Bullen) Popehn - Class of 2013
Dakotah Popehn began her athletic career for the Fighting Saints as a goalie for the St. Francis-North Branch hockey team. She then started running, competing in cross country, and track and field for four years. After graduating from high school in 2013, she started her collegiate career at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, as a walk-on non-scholarship track and cross-country athlete, eventually earning a scholarship. Over her four-year career for the Northern State Wolves, she built herself into a Division II All-American, becoming a first-team track All-American in the 10,000 meters and a second-team All-American in cross country with her continued hard work. Following graduation from college in 2017, Dakotah began working as a paralegal as well as focusing her efforts on professional running by joining the Minnesota Distance Elite team, competing in many Half Marathons and other events, winning the local 10-mile (the Hot Dash) and the 5K Brian Kraft around Lake Nokomis in 2019. She also finished 4th at the prestigious Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth and 2nd at the Twin Cities Marathon. She continued running in many events and qualified for the Olympic Trials in Atlanta on a hilly course in 2020, finishing 36th. Dakotah took a break from running and continued her paralegal career, but resumed her training in 2021, winning Grandma’s Marathon and finishing 12th at the Boston Marathon, where she was featured as one of the top American women marathon runners. In 2022, she won Grandma’s Marathon again and finished third at the Amway Riverbank Run in Michigan. Dakotah continued competing in various events throughout the county in 2023, finishing second at Grandma’s, 12th at the Chicago Marathon, 6th in the New York Marathon and 4th at the USA National 15K event. Dakotah earned the right to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, becoming the first Minnesotan to qualify in any Olympic running event when she finished third at the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando on February 3. Her time was 2 hours, 25 minutes, 31 seconds over the 26.2-mile course. She went into the Olympic trials as an underdog. Still, with an undeniable belief in herself, she was able to wrap the USA flag around her and represent St. Francis in the Olympic Games. “It almost doesn’t feel real,” Dakotah stated in a post-race news conference. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pictured myself holding this American flag. I don’t know if I’m ever going to take this off.” The 2024 Summer Olympic Marathon course on August 11 was grueling, featuring 1,430 feet of climbing and the same amount of descent. In preparation, Dakotah ran the Paris course in April and trained on the hills in the Hopkins area. Dakotah led for a portion of the 26-mile race and eventually became the top American, finishing 11th with a personal best time of 2:26:44, 4 minutes behind the gold medal finisher, Sifan Hassan, who set a new Olympic record time. She has continued training and competing and is looking forward to competing at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
Don Schleper - Teacher for 36 Years
Don Schleper began the St. Francis High School (SFHS) Distributed Education Clubs of America (DECA) in 1975 during his first year at the high school. The marketingbased extra-curricular activity became a staple of the business department and remains so as part of the SFHS Activities Department offerings. Don is a 1970 graduate of St. Cloud Cathedral High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Distributive Education from St. Cloud State in 1975. His first and only teaching job for the next 36 years was at St. Francis High School. Don completed his Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from St. Thomas University in 1993. Don led the Business and Marketing Department Chair and was the DECA advisor while these programs grew into one of the most respected in the state. He also served as a DECA advisor for the Career Development Conferences (CDC) at the district, state, and national/ international levels. SFHS has produced many students who have won district, state, and international awards in various marketing categories offered by DECA. SFHS DECA students have competed in national and international competitions in Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, New Orleans, Denver, San Francisco, Nashville, and Anaheim.
Don was recognized with the following awards for his work in DECA:
Minnesota State DECA Continuous Service Award - 1991, 1992, and 1993.
Minnesota Secondary DECA Outstanding Service Award (awarded at the DECA state conference) - 2003
SFHS Activities Coach of the Year - 2009-10
ISD 15 Superintendent’s Award - 1993
ISD 15 Outstanding Customer Service Award - 1998-99
Minnesota Secondary DECA Honorary Life Membership - 2010
Don fulfilled many other roles at the high school. He served as a member and subsequent chair of the SFHS Site Management Council. Organized students to run the school store and the logistics of the day-to-day operations of the concession stands for athletic contests. Don was a member of committees that developed the 5-period day schedule and worked with a group to establish partnerships for students to earn credits through vocational programming with Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College. Don’s lifelong impact on the students is immeasurable. His ability to empower and instill confidence in his students through his relaxed approach has always been his trademark. The current SFHS DECA advisor, Lisa-Marie Schrag, stated, “His mentorship and the ability to work alongside Don for his last three years were invaluable to our continued success of St. Francis DECA. We are respected throughout the state because of Don’s leadership. He is so deserving of being an SFHS Hall of Fame inductee.” Don lives in Zimmerman with his wife of 49 years, Marilyn. He has always been an avid cyclist and softball player, and he enjoys camping and kayaking with Marilyn. He continues his work in DECA by volunteering at the District 5 DECA Conference as a registration/tabulation coordinator each year. Don is a trustee and co-chair of One in the Light Capital Campaign for Christ Our Light Parish. He also performs with a small musical group at various assisted living and senior centers in the Zimmerman area.
Stanley Sizen - Class of 1977
Stanley Sizen, a 1978 graduate of St. Francis High School (SFHS), grew up in East Bethel just east of Highway 65 on County Road 26. Stan is the fifth of six children in his family. At that time, there were no close neighbors, so he and his brother Mike often competed against each other. Stan notes that growing up, his brother Mike was his toughest competitor. His sister, Louise, always kept him humble. Stan attended Bethel Elementary, St. Francis Elementary, and St. Francis Middle School before graduating from the new high school. He was a talented athlete at St. Francis, excelling in four sports: track, football, basketball, and baseball. Once Stan entered the high school athletic scene, he truly started to grab the coach’s attention. Stan competed in track as a freshman and sophomore; he was coached by his mentor, Stan Yovetich, and set a school record in his sophomore year in the 880-meter run with a time of 2:03. The following year, he shifted his focus to baseball, where he was named an All-Conference center fielder in the Tri-Metro in 1977 and an All-Conference center fielder in the Rum River Conference in 1978. Stan’s accomplishments on the gridiron are well recorded in St. Francis history. He helped the Saints to the Rum River football championship, and Stan would set a St. Francis pass receiving record in 1977. The team completed a 9-2 record and entered the Minnesota football playoffs, beating Two Harbors in their first game. They lost to Fridley Grace in the semifinals. Stan was named Rum River All-Conference at wide receiver in 1977. He continued his football career at North Hennepin College, Anoka Ramsey, and St. Cloud State University (SCSU) on a football scholarship, where he played alongside his high school teammate, Corey Gilbertson. Basketball may have been Stan’s most impressive sport. Stan would be selected as All-Conference Honorable mention as a guard in the Tri-Metro Conference for 1976-77 and the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1977. In 1978, Stan was chosen as an All-Conference Guard in the Rum River Conference and team Co-Most Valuable Player. As a senior, Stan led the Rum River Conference in scoring and assists, without a three-point line. Stan would be selected as the SFHS Athlete of the Year in 1978. Stan would also be chosen for the “Foley Top Foe Award.” This award was given out by Foley High School to the competitor whom they considered the best individual they faced all year in the conference. Some of Stan’s mentors in school were Stan Yovetich, Vern Gilbertson, Jim Swanson, Dave Burns, Mark Bender, and Wilbur Nelson. He shared great memories of teammates: Mike Sizen, Phil Stalpes, Corey Gilbertson, Dave Walton, Dan Ott, Troy Ferguson, Bernie Protas, Bud Sundeen and Greg Schadewald; and many more names from that 1977-78 premier season. These teammates were part of a 1978 class that would obtain several conference championships in various sports during the 1977-78 athletic year. Stan would be considered one of the most complete athletes of the 1970s. Stan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1982 and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Psychology at SCSU in 1984. He has worked as a vocational rehabilitation consultant for over 40 years, including the past 32 years in the company he founded, Sizen Vocational Services. Stan has been married to his high school sweetheart, Vicki, for 44 years. They have two daughters along with five grandchildren. Stan continued to be involved with athletics after college. He would run Grandma’s Marathon twice and earned his black belt in Taekwondo in the 2000s. Stan also coached his daughters in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball and softball.